Mount for wing guns



R. A. SWALM ET AL MOUNT FOR WING GUNS April 6, 1937.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 7, 1953 INVENTORJ ROBERTA .SWALM. W BY CARL12. .11 I-LEINTZE.

April 6, 1937. r R. A. SWALM ET AL MOUNT FOR WING GUNS Filed Aug. 7,1953. s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. POBBRTA-SWALMF'Q CARL manuals-ran.

April 6, 1937.

R. A. swALM ET AL MOUNT FOR WING GUNS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Au 7, 1933INVENTOR. I ROBERTA.SWALM.% BY CARL 12.01. HEINTZB.

Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE MOUNT FOR WING GUNSNew York Application August 7, 1933, Serial No. 683,944

4. Claims. (01. 89-37) This invention relates to armament for aircraftand more particularly provides improvements in mountings for aircraftmachine guns. In the past, it has usually been the practice to mountfixed machine guns on the fuselage of an airplane withsuitablesynchronizing mech anism connected with the engine, so that thegun fires through the airplane propeller disk, between the blades.Although this practice .has

been fairly satisfactory, the current improvements provide machine gunscarried in the wings of the airplane so that their line of fire isoutside of the propeller disk, and hence there is no possibility that amisfire of the gun can damage the propeller. Such construction alsoenables more guns to be carried by the airplane.

. In this type of gun installation, the airplane as a whole is aimed, inorder to aim the guns, In

mounting} fixed guns, it has been a regular practice to provide atrunnion attaching the forward portion of the gun to a structural memberof the airplane, and to provide screw adustments attaching the rearwardend of the gun to another structural part of the airplane. By alteringthe adjustments, the line of fire of the gun may be changed so that theline of fire at some fixed range will converge with the longitudinalaxis of the airplane.

-Thegun is usually attached to its supportby means of through boltswhich, when it is necessary toremove and service the gun, are frequentlydifficult of removal, since the gun and its supports are usually locatedin rather cramped quarters. Also, the adjustment ofthe mounting partsmay become disarranged, so that when the gun is replaced, it would benecessary to realign or resigiht the gun to obtain the correct line offire.

It is an object of this invention'to provide a 40 mount for a fixedmachine gun in an airplane from which the gun may be easily removed or,

on which the gun may be easily installed without the use of tools andwithout disturbing the position of adjustment of the gun mount, wherebythe correct line of fire will'be maintained re-' gardless of how oftenthe gun may be taken out for service.

A further object is to provide quickly releas able means whereby amachine gun may be. resomoved from or installed in its mount.

A further object is to provide a gun mount adapted for use in the wingof an airplane and to'provide adjusting mechanism for the gun mount sothat the mounted gun may be adjusted 55 for correct line of fire.

Another object is to provide, in the mechanism for releasing the gunfrom its mount, an automatic safety feature wherein it is impossible toplace a cover on the wing surface over the gun until the gun shall havebee'n'locked in position, thereby providing a warning that the gun isnot properly locked.

Still further objects are to provide for easy removal and replacing ofthe gun, an accessible adjusting mechanism for the line of fire of thegun, a gun mount adapted for use in either the upper or lower panels ofa biplane, and to provide a gun mount which may be located along withthe gun, completely within the confines of the wing structure so thatthere are no projections to interfere with the speed characteristics ofthe airplane.

Further objects will be apparent from a reading of the specification andclaims.

' Briefly, the gun mount comprises a relatively rigid frame supported atits forward end on a universal connection adjacent a forward wing. spar.The rearward end of the frame is held either to the rearward wing sparor to a suitable extension therefrom, by means of adjusting; screwslocated at right angles to each other whereby the frame may be moved inlimited angles either vertically or horizontally to change its relativealignment with the wing. The frame is provided with a plurality ofopen-ended slots within which suitable lugs on the gun are adapt- .ed toengage when the gun is placed in the mount. A latch mechanism is adaptedto hold certain of the lugs within their respective slots,

whereby the gun as a whole is firmly held in fixed relation to theframe. The operating memher for the latch mechanism is so arranged thatwhen unlocked, it projects beyond the outer surface of the wing contour,and so that when locked, the operating member lies wholly within thewing. The space within the wing occupied by the gun and mountnecessitates an opening in the wing surface which is adapted tobe closedby a suitable cover, By the arrangement of the" operating member, thiscover can only be replaced when the latch mechanism is in its lockedposition.

For a clearer understanding of the invention, reference may be made tothe drawings, in which similar numbers indicate similar parts, and inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a portion of an airplane wing embodying a first formof the invention wherein the gun is adapted to be withdrawn through thelower surface of the wing;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly broken away, of the gun mountembodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion-of an airplane wing showing a secondembodiment of the gun mount;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly broken away, of an airplane wing withthe gun mount embodiment of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation showing the details of the firstembodiment of the gun mount;

Fig. 6 is a plan of the first embodiment of the gun mount;

Fig. '7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a section ofa'portion of the adjusting mechanism for the first embodiment of the gunmount;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged side elevation of the second embodiment of thegun mount;

Fig. 11 is a. plan of the second embodiment of the gun mount;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line |2*| 2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a section on the line |3-|3 of Fig. 11; Fig. 14 is a sectionon the line l4 of Fig. 11; 5 and e Fig. 15 is a section, viewed from therear, of that portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14.

As will be noted from the above, Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9illustrate one embodiment of the invention wherein the gun mount isarranged toward the upper surface of an airplane wing and wherein thegun is adapted to be withdrawn through an opening in the lower surfaceof the wing. Figs. 3, 4,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and-15 show an alternativeembodiment wherein the gun mount is arranged toward the lower surface orthe wing and wherein the gun is adapted to be mounted and withdrawnthrough a suitable opening in the upper covering of the wing. The firstembodiment will be described, and those points of difierence between thefirst and second embodiments will then be fully explained.

An airplane wing l6, which may be either the wing of a monoplane or theupper or lower wing of a biplane, is provided with a conventionaldorwardwing spar l1 and a rear wing spar l8. A

pair of spaced braces I9 and 29, such as conventional compression ribsin the wing, extend be-.

tween the spars l1 and I8. A cross brace 2| extends from the brace |9tothe brace 20 and provides an anchorage for a gun mount adjustingmechanism 22.

A pair of frame members 23 and 24 form the main portion of the gun mountand areioined at their forward ends by a yoke 25, the-yoke 29 being.pivoted to the members 23 and 24 as bybolts 26 and 21 Thus, the members23 and 24 may oscillate slightly in a vertical plane about the yoke 25.The yoke, in turn, is carried on a vertical pivot 28 which is rigidlyattached by a fitting 29, to the wing spar l1.

. At their rearward ends the members 23 and .24 are joined by a bolt .39and sleeve 3| serving as tical screw 35 which may be journaled at itslower end in the brace 2|. It will thus be ap- 4 parent that the gunmount may be adjusted vertically and laterally to an extent limited bythe 0 5 a spacer between the members, and links32 being length of thescrews 35 and 33, by turning said.

screws in either direction. By the arrangement of the yoke 25 and theforward vertical pivot 28, the mount is held from possible wabbling fromside to side.

The members 23 and 24 are provided toward their rearward ends' withopen-ended slots 36 and 31, these slots having their open ends facingrearwardly and downwardly. Toward the forward ends of the members 23 and24, a pair of opposed plates 38 are attached, these plates extendingdownwardly'from the frame members and having open-ended slots 39. Theseslots have their ppenings also facing rearwardly and downwardly. Amachine gun 40 is provided with lugs or studs 4| which may be carried bya suit able fitting 42 screwed to the machine gun 40.

These lugs may engage'within the slots 36 and 31. Similar studs or lugs43 are provided on the opposite sides of the forward end of the machinegun 40 to engage within the slots 39. Thus, it

will be seen that when the machine gun is located so that the severallugs engage in the several slots, it attains a fixed location withrespect to the gun mount, and more particularly, with respect to themembers 23 and 24. The mechanism for holding the gun so that the lugsare retained in the slots comprises a hook 44 pivoted to each plate 38and having a portion 45 against which the lug 43 may press when themachine gun is placed. Upon moving of the hook 44, a portion 46 of saidhook embraces the lug whereby said lug is prevented from leaving theslot 39' unless said hook is likewise moved. A latch 41, pivoted asattached to the member 24. Such mechanism is duplicated on the member23. Hence, there is an arm 49for each member 23 and 24, these .armsbeing joined at their outer ends for conbe moved simultaneously. Inorder to more securely prevent the latch 41from unlocking the gun, abell crank lever 5| is pivoted to one of the arms 49, one end of thebell crank having a portion 52 adapted to hook over a portion of thevenience by a handle 50, whereby'both arms may plate 38 toprevent thearm 49 and hence, the

latch 41 from disengaging the hook 44. The

other arm of the bell crank 5| serves as a handle or triggertherefor,'and this is normally held in a position of locking by means ofa spring 53 engaging both the bell crank 5| and the arm 49. 7 Byreference to' Fig. 2, it will be apparent that a detachable cover 54 isarranged to cover the lower-surface of the wing adjacent the gun mount.By removing this cover, and by-depressing the handle portion of thebelherank 5| and by de-' pressing the arm 49, the hook 44 is so releasedthat the gun may be withdrawn, such withdrawal involving thedisengagement of the lugs 4| and 43 from their respective slots 36, 31,and 39. I

Replacement of the gun is accomplished by reversing the procedure. Itwill be noted in Fig. 2 that the arm 49 in solid lines shows theposition when the gun is locked in place and in such position, the arm49 lies wholly within the confines of the wing. The dotted lines/showthe arm 49 in a position for installing or removing locked in place, itwill be impossible to attach,

.the cover 54, as the projecting length of the arm 49 prevents. Whensaid arm is properly locked in place, the cover $4 may be installedlAfitting iiisattachedtothefittingnand extends through abore across theneutral axis of the spar 11, and thus provides a combination of guideand-rest to" facilitate insertion and removal of the The gun barrel "aprojects through the wing spa'r and extends adjacent the leading edge ofthe wing it. Normally, this barrel a. may be protected by a fairing 5arranged for easy removal should it be desired to in the gun.

As previously indicated, the gun may be installed inor removed from thegun mount and when installed, always has afixed and definite positionwith respect thereto. Alignment of the gun .with respect to the airplaneis eflected by turning either or both of the screws 33 and 35, suchscrews aifecting the position of the gun mount as well as of the gun.Therefore, since the position of the mount may be given a predeterminedadjustment, the gun-will always assume such adjustment when it is firmlyseated in the gun mount.- It will be-noted that in the constructionshown, the alignment adjustments for the gun are remote from themechanism provided for securing the gun to the mount, and thusinadvertent spoilage of the mount adjustment is minimized. Thisconstitutes a distinct improvement over previous gun' mounts, since theadjusting mechanism and the gun attaching mechanism have either been oneand the same unit or have.

been so closely adjacent to each other that one 40 is easilyinterfered'with while the other is being operated.

i 'JZhe above description applies virtually in toto support the gun 40on top thereof instead of below,

as in the previousembodiment. Ihe arm 49',

' 55 then, is arranged to be operated from thetop of the wing, and'inunlocked position projects above the top surface of the wing to preventapplication of the cover il'without firstfullylocking the gunin-position. r i 6 It will benoted that the fitting 29' may be combinedwith fittings GI, and fittings 62 maybe combined with the fitting 60,these fittings i] and 62 being adapted for drag bracing or the like in Ythe wing structure. 65 The principalelements involved in. bothembodiments of the gun mount may readily be made interchangeable andobviously, it would require only minor changes to adapt either gun molmtfor use in an installation where the gun is.to be removable from eitherone or of the airplane wing. v

Although theembodiments' shown are particularly applied to an airplanewing, it is apparent that the mechanisms and principles involved thereinmay be used for mounting machine guns on other parts of an airplane oron other forms of vehicles. 4 "While we have described our invention indetail in itspresent preferred embodiment, it will be obvious'to thoseskilled in the art, after understanding our invention, that variouschanges and the other surface modifications may be made therein withoutdeplacement of said gun, a cover for said access opening, and manuallyoperable means for releasing said gun from said mount. said manualmeansincluding a member adapted, when said gun is held in said mount, tolie wholly within said wing whereby said cover may be placed over saidaccess opening, said member being adapted to project from said wing whensaid gun is not held by said manual, means, wherebysaid cover cannot beplaced over said opening.

2. In an aircraft wing, a gun mount adaptedv to releasably hold a gunwithin said wing, means forming part of said mount for holding said gunfirmly in saidv mount, said means having a member adapted to lie outsidethe contour. of said wing when said means is not firmly holding, saidgun and adapted to lie wholly within said wing when said means firmlyholds said mm.

3. In a fixed gun mount for an aircraft wing comprising spaced front andrear spars, said front spar having a foreand aft opening, a gun having abarrel adapted to be inserted through said sparopening, a frame attachedat its forward and rearward ends to said front and rear spars, andreleasable means for mounting the breech end of said gun to said frame,'said means comprising lugs carried by said gun, said frame having'slots within which said lugs are adapted to be slid after insertion ofthe gun barrel through said spar-opening.

4. In a. fixed gun mount for an aircraft wing comprising spaced frontand rear spars, said front sparhavinga fore and aft opening, a gunhaving a barrel adapted to be inserted'through said spar opening, aframe attached at its forward and rearward ends to said front and rearspars, releasable means for mounting the breech end of said gun to saidframe, said means comprising lugs carried by said gun, said frame havingslots withinwhich said lugs are adapted to be slid after insertion. V ofthe gun barrel through said spar opening,

means for holding certain of said lugs within certain of said slots, andmeans for eifecting'limited adjustment of the position of said framerelative to said spars, said last named means being remote from andwholly independent of said lug holding means.

ROBERT-A. SWALM.

CARL R. O. P. HElNTzE. 1

